Product Claims:
This all-in-one toning treatment exfoliates and hydrates your skin while stimulating collagen production. It is specially formulated to strengthen the skin and regulate proper pH balance to reveal a smooth, healthy glow. Our newest tonic helps to build and protect your Essential Stratum BarrierSM and enables your skin to be at its best by ensuring cell turnover and rejuvenation.

Look and feel

It is completely clear with a mild, pleasant smell. It almost looks like water. On the skin it is cooling and soothing. If you are (like I was) used to toners that leave your skin feeling stretched and taut, this will surprise you based on how hydrating it is. Sometimes, if I haven’t used it for a few days, it tingles slightly when I put it on, as though it is eating up all the junk that accumulated in its absence. This pleases me greatly.

How I use this

I use this after cleansing and before moisturising. I either pour a small amount onto a cotton pad and sweep over my face and neck or I splash it into my palm and press it onto my face directly. Sometimes, when I want a heavier dose of acids/chemical exfoliation, I use this as a second toner, after I have first toned with my Pixi Glow Tonic.

Formulation

photo source: www.cultbeauty.co.uk

I find it so intriguing that a product in which almost all the ingredients could be food, is also so effective on the skin.
Take aloe, which aids digestion and alkalises the body. In this toner it heals and soothes stressed out skin.
Or lactic acid which is predominantly found in dairy products like yoghurt; in this product it improves skins texture and hydrates like a dream. If you have acne scarring, this ingredient is what does the heavy lifting to smoothen you out.
Glycerin which is used in baking to add moisture to some cake and fondant icing recipes, does the exact same thing here and encourages skin to attract moisture from the atmosphere and subsequent products.
How about the organic sugar? Rather than just a sweetener in our coffee, in this formulation it encourages the skin to shed its dead cells for a glowy, brightening effect. Almost like a sugar scrub but in liquid form!
And then finally, the fruit teas and extracts do exactly the same thing they do in the body – fight oxidative stress and rascally free radicals that cause faster ageing.

Results

Sometime last year, I realised that my beloved Clinique and I had to part ways after many happy years together. Thankfully, my skin remained reasonably clear through my pregnancy, but I have had to come to terms with the fact that the needs of 30+ are different. It was time to find a new crop of cleaner, more nuanced, and more effective toners. Enter January Labs Daily Brightening Tonic, stage left.

This toner is deceptively simple. The ingredient list reads like something you might expect to find on a new superfood health drink rather than on a beauty product. However it is definitely a chemical exfoliating toner, albeit a mild one, employing AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids). AHAs dissolve the cellular glue that sticks dead skin cells together.

At first I thought it wasn’t doing much, until I stopped using it and found that my brightness was backsliding. I never, ever, ever want to lighten my naturally dark skin, but I do want to make sure that I keep it healthy, radiant and glowing to the gods.

Verdict

I have enjoyed using this toner. I do suspect sometimes that my skin starts to get used to it, so I like to give it a break periodically so as to keep it effective.

I absolutely love the fact that the ingredient list is so minimalist. Not a nasty colour, filler, fragrance or preservative in sight. Everything in there is geared toward a specific task for your skin and not for gimmickey marketing. If you are passionate about clean beauty, January Labs is a brand to explore!

The no nonsense packaging (plastic bottle with a flip-up spout) is lightweight and great for travelling. I have never had any spills with this.

Will I buy this again? I think so. It definitely has worked well for me; however it is my first exclusively lactic acid toner so I would like to try out a few others to see where this sits among its peers. Stay tuned!

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Minjiba is a creative African food blogger, TV cook and content creator based in Lagos and her cooking show ‘Minjiba Entertains’ airs weekly on The Africa Channel in the US & the Caribbean. In addition to developing exciting recipes from local ingredients, she is a sworn skincare addict and loves to explore products that use active food ingredients.

Beyonce’s much anticipated and talked about September Vogue cover is finally here and honestly, we are not worthy. Queen Bey looks luminous and youthful…serious dewy skin goals!

photo source: Vogue

In the 350 degree oven that is Lagos, this pared back make up look might just be the
trend we should all adopt.

Here are five tips for achieving this look (flower crown not included!):

1. Great Skincare

Clarins Double Serum

Amazing skin is the foundation of all great make up looks, not least a minimal one such as this. A good day and night routine is an absolute must. Cleanser, exfoliant, mask, toner, treatment, serum, moisturizer, and last but by no means least, sunscreen – Go. Buy. NOW!

This will help ensure your skin is hydrated, protected, youthful, and blemish free for the most part.

2. A Good Base

There are so many lightweight, medium coverage foundations on the market today that can achieve this look. You want to look for a natural (skin-like) satin finish as opposed to a full coverage matte finish for this look.

Also, a great base doesn’t always have to mean foundation. If your skin is relatively blemish-free, some spot concealing and under-eye coverage could be all you need. Basically, don’t mask your skin. Only use product where you need it!

4. Cream over Powder

I think we all know by now that a natural beat doesn’t necessarily mean you use any less products or steps than a regular beat. The key to making this look believable is using a light hand and mimicking the natural highlights, contours, and flushes of your skin. Only this time, choose cream over powder. Cream blushes and contour products are the way to go.

5. All Set!

You still need to set. Apply a finely milled setting powder on your t-zone to ensure your base stays where you placed it – remember, 350 degree oven! A good finishing spray will also help restore the glow and make you look dewy, not oily!

Good luck and I wish you Beyonce Vogue vibes.

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Simi is a company secretary and full time lover of food/sporadic blogger @inmylagoskitchen forever trialing skincare in search of the (nonexistent) 'ONE'.

You’ve tried it all: bone straight, wavy, curly, braids, all sorts and you’re just in a rut, not sure what you can do anymore… Ladies, we all go through it, that period when you’re not really sure what to do with your hair anymore.

Well, hopefully I can help… Here’s some #HairInspo

1. PLATINUM BLONDE

photo source: instagram.com/joycejacobbeauty

photo source: instagram.com/kehindesmith

Blonde comes in different variations: sandy blonde, beige blonde, honey blonde, brown blonde, platinum blonde, etc. Platinum blonde has been so trendy with celebrities lately. I’m in love with it because it’s so different from the norm. Definitely a win! If it’s too much for you, you can tell your colorist to add dark roots and tone it down a bit like Kehinde Smith’s

Side note: Nobody rocks hair like Tiwa Savage. I have to give it to her; the lady can rock any hairstyle and color with no care in the world. She inspired this article!

2. GREY/SILVER

Another head turner, grey hair! Remember when grey meant that you were growing old? Yeah not anymore. This is also a good option if you’re trying to switch-up your look. Tiwa Savage and Kim Kardashian have both tried grey hair, Danielle Okeke opted to having dark roots added to hers.

3. COLOURED BRAIDS

Braids are my all-time favourite, so classic and effortless, and also low maintenance. Times have evolved, people are rocking colored braids. If you are tired of weaves and wigs, you can opt for this. Like Stephanie Coker’s wine braids.

4. PASTEL PINK HAIR

Another daring look that looks so bomb when executed right. Pink is called “fashion color” in the coloring world because it is a lot of work and super high maintenance. For my dark-skinned ladies, fear not, with pastel pink it’s all about the tone!

5. MULTI-TONAL BLONE/BROWN

We all know this is Beyonce’s signature colour –the wavy/curly wig swirled in brown, brown blonde & honey blonde shades, hardly does she rock any other color. You go through all her pictures and most of her videos, she is most likely dancing to “Single Ladies” in her signature look. This is the ladies who want to play it ‘safe’ but still want to be a little adventurous. If it is still too much for you, you can rock it as an ombre or highlights.

Hope I managed to get some of you inspired for your next hair appointment. And if you’re looking for a colourist you can trust, I’m your girl!

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Ajoke runs a hotel in the day, and a hair colorist at night. When she’s not doing either, she's Netflixing all her favourite TV shows.

Koreans probably have the most extensive skin care routine in the beauty industry. They take skincare seriously and are very particular about what they put on their skin. This is part of what makes me rather interested in K-beauty. Before I became familiar with the famous 10-step Korean skincare routine, I had heard about “glass skin” – a Korean term for clear, pore less, glowing and well hydrated skin. My skin was very dehydrated at that time and the promise of glass skin using Korean skin care products seemed like a very good idea to me. I tried and now, I’m a K-beauty convert. Simply because I have used products that have dramatically improved my skin. My skin is in such a calm, happy place and I owe part of my skin’s progress to these K-beauty babies.

Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner

At the time I discovered this product, skin was dehydrated and I was looking forward to remedying it with this product. Little did I know I would be solving multiple skin problems! My skin became more hydrated, less oily and broke out less. Now I tell people that one of the ways to improve acne effectively is to properly hydrate their skin. With its major moisture-binding ingredient (sodium Hyaluronate aka Hyaluroic Acid), I can be sure my skin remains hydrated through the day.

Cosrx Low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser.

Apart from the fact that this cleanser does a proper job at cleansing and refreshing all skin types, it’s formulated to keep your skin protected. One of the things that you can do to improve your skin is definitely using a low PH cleanser. Koreans believe in protecting the skin’s moisture barrier and I honestly believe that too. The reason some people have acne is because their skin’s barrier has been severely compromised and has a low defense against external aggressors. It also contains tea tree oil & betaine salicylate (a milder form of Salicylic acid) which is even more beneficial for acne-prone skin!

Klairs Midnight Bue Calming Cream

I don’t even know how to properly explain my love for this cream. I tried samples and automatically well in love. Now I have the full size pot. This cream is my pick-me-up on days my skin is irritated and screaming for help. It’s so effective at soothing, inflamed and troubled skin. I like that it has a soft, buttery feel on the skin without being oily. Best part for me is it doesn’t feel my pores like most creams I’ve used in the past.

Cosrx Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask

Sleeping masks are masks introduced to me by Korean skincare. They are essentially made to deeply hydrate your skin as you sleep. I find that this overnight mask works great at night, although some people swear that it could replace their daytime moisturizer. Using this mask as a moisturizer isn’t something I would recommend for acne-prone skin as it is quite thick and can clog pores but I can tell you it’s fantastic for those days you really aim to wake up with plump, hydrated and glowing skin.

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Ifeoluwa is a skincare blogger with growing interests in esthetics skincare & product photography. She shares most of her knowledge on caring for acne-prone skin on www.sheisnaturallybronze.com and retails Korean Beauty products at: Your Skin's Love

Pro Tip: If you like full-on, stay-all-day, long-lasting make-up, I’m not saying you can’t stay but you may want to skip this one!

Cloud Paints have been on my Beauty Wish List foreverrr *Cardi B voice*! Im sorry, what? You don’t have a beauty wish list? What’s wrong with you?! Anyway, the urge to get them got even stronger when Glossier released two new shades (Storm & Dawn) which I think are more brown girl friendly than their previous offerings. Storm is described as a ‘warm rose’ on the website and Dawn, as a ‘sunny coral’. I am a sucker for all things orange and peachy so I immediately gravitated towards Dawn. I think I tried Storm once but I LIKE WHAT I LIKE!

Packaging

The Cloud Paints come in an opaque squeezy tube which in turn come in a little foil/ plastic box. The colour for each Cloud Paint is indicated on the tube. Instant love! I like when my products perform and are pretty at the same time! Bonus points for being Instagram friendly 🙂

Application

I tried applying this two ways. The first go round, I used my fingers to quickly blend this out where I wanted it to be – on the apples of my cheeks and onto the high points of my cheek bones. The second time, I tried using a brush (Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to be specific).

Hands win! While the brush is nice where I want to sweep the blush on top of my cheekbones and meld it into my contour, I felt like I wasted the product this way. Plus, there’s something slightly soothing about tap, tap, tapping this beauty into my cheeks. I didn’t feel like it stayed visible on my face all day but then again, I am never heavy handed with my make-up. But don’t test me when it comes to skincare!

Coverage

Coverage is pretty good. It looks really pigmented coming out of the tube but don’t let that scare you – they blend out pretty well and still retain their pigment without you looking clownish. As with all things Glossier, it has a really natural finish and gives my cheeks a nice flush of colour. Texture is also great and feels really nice to apply. One thing I noticed that I wasn’t previously aware of was that the Cloud Paints have a barely there pearlescent shimmer/ glow in them. It’s hardly noticeable once you apply it though.

Definitely love this product and will repurchase once I’ve run out. You’ll love this if you: like a natural beat and enjoy a glow that looks like it might be all you!

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Simi is a company secretary and full time lover of food/sporadic blogger @inmylagoskitchen forever trialing skincare in search of the (nonexistent) 'ONE'.

Even when done in the most professional way, colouring will cause damage to your hair extensions, however the extent of damage can be significantly reduced depending on the quality of the hair and the expertise of the colorist. How you care for your coloured extensions also contributes, so here are some tips and hacks that can help:

1. Say No to Shampoo.

This might sound a little dirty, but let me explain. Shampoo will dry out your hair and will make the color fade faster. Instead, co wash the weave/ wig with a conditioner. If you really have to use a shampoo, use sulphate free color protecting shampoo like L’Oreal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo

2. Say Hello To Your New Friend: Deep conditioning.

photo source: pinterest.com

This is honestly the key, the hair just need extra love a.k.a moisture. So you have to deep condition your hair more, it can be the use of leave in conditioner, a deep conditioner or a hair mask. Apply any of these to the hair and let it sit for couple hours, the results will wow you. Literally.

3. Embrace the use of Heat Protective Products

We know the talk about not applying heat to the hair, we’ve heard it a couple times but it’s kind of inevitable because you want to go from straight to wavy back to beach waves and then maybe rock some deep curls, we know. And Thank the working Gods of Hair Care, they decided to come through with heat protecting sprays. Please use them for color treated units like there’s no tomorrow. We don’t need to go into details about the damage caused by these appliances, so please don’t be stingy with the spray.

4. Say Bye to Hot Water

Avoid using hot water to rinse the hair because it opens up the hair cuticles which makes the hair color fade faster and also causes dryness. So, it’s better to stick with cold or lukewarm water.

5. The Swimming Pool is Your Worst Enemy

Swim without your colored wigs, if you have a sew in or your natural hair dyed, I will suggest you avoid the swimming pool. The chlorinated water dries out your hair and if you’re a blonde, it is worse because the chlorine will react with the dye and turn your hair green. Who wants to go from Blondie Beyoncé to Icky Isla in a matter of seconds just because of a swim? Nobody I know for sure.

All of these tips will help to maintain your color treated units better. If you’re interested in colouring your hair bundles, reviving your coloured bundles or just getting a custom colored weave or wig, Shades of Bella is available to offer its colouring services.

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Ajoke runs a hotel in the day, and a hair colorist at night. When she’s not doing either, she's Netflixing all her favourite TV shows.

When I tell people I make satin pillowcases, the first thing they ask is “What? Why do you need that?” It may seem like an unnecessary luxury at first but, once you hear about the benefits for your hair and skin, you’ll start to see it as a necessity. I don’t go anywhere without mine – if I’m going on holiday or just sleeping over at someone’s house, I take mine with me. In my experience, sleeping on a satin pillowcase can spell the difference between waking up with dry skin and frizzy hair or glowing skin and moisturised hair. Here are just a few benefits of using satin pillowcases:

You don’t have to worry about you scarf or bonnet falling off – I think we’ve ALL been there where you have your cute hairstyle and you tie down your scarf, only to wake up with the scarf half way across the room and your hair looking like a bird’s nest. Having the satin pillowcase solves that problem because you don’t need to worry about it falling off.

Prevents your hair from getting dry and frizzy – cotton pillowcases may feel nice but they’re not so great when it comes to your hair. They draw and suck the moisture out of your hair and, when you’ve spent your whole public holiday washing, conditioning and detangling your hair, the last thing you want to do is wake up the next day with dry, frizzy hair and reverse all your hard work. The smooth satin surface allows your hair to glide and move without getting dry or snagging.

Prevents your skin from getting dry and developing wrinkles – the same way the cotton sucks the moisture from your hair, the cotton also sucks moisture from your skin. You don’t want to spend 30 minutes of your evening applying serums and creams only for your pillow to soak it all up. Your face needs to be able to glide and move across the pillow. The smooth surface won’t dry out your skin.

It prevents breakage – dry hair = breakage. Breakage is one of the fastest ways to lose your length. Using a satin pillowcase prevents your hair from getting dry, which will in turn help to reduce breakage and help you retain length.

These are just a few of the benefits of satin pillowcases. They really are the best! I loved them so much that I actually started making my own LOL. Do yourselves a favour and invest in a satin pillowcase! You won’t regret it!

They currently come in black, white & cream and cost N4500 each.

To order: natureslocks@gmail.com

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Tara is a hair and skincare blogger living and working in Lagos. She works a 9-5 job whilst building the business she is passionate about, Nature's Locks (a hair and skincare line of products and tools), which started out as a blog, natureslocks.to.
You can find her:

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